Our own Jason Torchinsky hit the nail on the head when he called out Lincoln's silly idea to make a Super Bowl ad "crowdsourced" from tweets about road trips. (I kind of hate myself a little bit for even using that word.)
Unlike Ford, which has rolled out some impressive cars recently, Lincoln continues to have a product problem that no amount of social media marketing bullshit will solve. Rather than slick ad campaigns, money should be thrown at making a car that is both compelling and competitive. The rest will take care of itself.
Take this ad from 1961 featuring the Lincoln Continental, arguably the brand's pinnacle achievement. It's as simple as they come: It shows us the new car while a narrator explains its features and why it's better than the competition. Shorter wheelbase, easier to park, unique doors, spacious comfort inside, convertible top on a four-door, and "Continental quality." There's your Lincoln ad, America. BAM.
My favorite part, though, is when they talk about the warranty that comes with the new Continental: two years or 24,000 miles. "Double that of any other car built in America!" Mr. Narrator says.
Holy shit, can you believe that's what passed for a car warranty in the 1960s? Makes you wonder what they would think of Hyundai/Kia's 10-year warranty plans now.
How would you make the perfect Lincoln ad?